By Salih Okuroglu
Ambassadors of the Developing-8 countries gathered at a dinner on Monday in the Turkish capital.
The New Year dinner was attended by D-8 Secretary General Ambassador Isiaka Abdulqadir Imam, Bangladesh's Ambassador Amanul Haq, Pakistan's Ambassador Yusuf Cuneyd, Türkiye's General Director of Multilateral Economic Affairs Esen Altug, Anadolu Global News Director Faruk Tokat and others.
Delivering the opening speech, Imam said the D-8 seeks to increase its visibility globally while boosting commercial relations between the member countries.
Imam said the D-8 attaches great importance to the year of 2023 in terms of programs and activities aimed at taking it to higher levels.
The secretary-general noted that Egypt is expected to assume the next term chair of D-8.
For his part, Altug said that the D-8 had proven its role in difficult times and had made significant progress in areas of cooperation among member countries.
Altug highlighted that there are still steps to be taken to unveil the potential of the organization, which works for the welfare of a 1.1 billion population.
"The most urgent and striking development that requires the D-8's attention is what is happening in Gaza," he said.
The D-8 organization was launched on June 15, 1997, after Turkey's then-Prime Minister Necmettin Erbakan, proposed the creation of an economic group consisting of eight emerging economies from the Muslim world, including Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Nigeria, Pakistan and Türkiye.